Building structure



Feb. 27, M53 H. c. MORTENSON BUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 13, 1945 INVENTOR. Henry E- Murtansnn AT Y Feb. 27, 1951 H. c.MORTENSON BUILDING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets5heet 2 gwuem to'v E Mart E115 cm,

Hen?

Filed Feb. 13,

H. C. MORTENSON Feb: 2?, 1951 BUILDING STRUCTURE 3 SheetsSheet 5 FiledFeb. 13, 1945 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in building constructionsand more particularly to the formation of certain particular unitsformed for interfitting and, interlocking to provide a buildingstructure.

The primary object of the invention is to provide structural buildingunits, particularly and peculiarly formed for interfitting assemblage,with the interfitting parts of the units providing a positive interlockto prevent separation under any and all usual strains to which thebuilding structure may be subjected in use.

A further object is to provide interlocking structural units that are sodesigned as to require a minimum of types or forms of such units,ordinarily limited to two, which, through their edge formations, arecapable of interlocking assemblage for use in substantially all parts ofthe building structure, that is, the walls, floors, the

roof, the interior partitions and other main parts of the building,without material change in the forms of such units.

A further object of the invention is to provide one such unit that iscapable of serving as a main unit in providing the walls, floor, ceilingand roof, and the provision of another unit for interlocking with, andserving to position, the main units and provide structural bases andsupports with relation to the main units.

A further object of the invention is to provide main structural unitscapable of being arranged as a double wall structure, andv auxiliaryunits for tying together the main units in each wall as well ascooperating with respective auxiliary units to tie together spacedwalls, such cooperative auxiliary units being wholly free of contact,one with the other, whereby the respective walls are wholly free ofthermal conducting contact, are spaced to provide an effectiveintermediate insulating area and also provide channels for the receptionof electric conduits or pipes.

A further object of the invention is to provide auxiliary units fortying the respective walls in spaced relation, the respective auxiliaryunits having portions that extend in parallel adjacent relation with thelength of one auxiliary unit of each pair interrupted to providesupports for the floor structure while the other such auxiliary unit ofeach pair is continued. above the floor structure to provide a partitionin the floor space and to extend to and afford support for the roof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking section which,following assemblage of the main units and the auxiliary units may beinterfitted with the ends of such units to fric tionally cooperate andmaintain the units against possible separation under ordinary buildingstrains.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide main units andauxiliary units which may be assembled to provide a roof structurewhich,through the use of auxiliary tying clips is rigidly tied to the buildingstructure proper, and effectively supported from and by that buildingstructure.

A further object of the invention is to provide structural buildingunits and necessary tie elements of sheet material, preferably metalsuch as aluminum, steel, or the like, varying in gauge according to thestrength required and incident to that particular and peculiar lockingcooperation of ready and convenient assemblage and desired assemblage tothereby provide a true portable structure without the necessity ofauxiliary fastening elements; the formations of the units however, beingsuch as to facilitate the use of more permanent fastening elements, suchas screws, or even welding in order when desired, to provide a morepermanent building structure.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective of the threeprincipal units designed in accordance with the present invention forthe formation of the wall, floor, ceiling and roof of the buildingstructure;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on a horizontal planethrough a double walled building constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on a vertical planethrough a double walled building constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on a planecorresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of modified units for use infloor construction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a corner support andbrace unit;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a coupling or fasteningelement on a surface unit for connection with the corner unit;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the connection between asurface unit and a corner brace; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a modified locking unitfor use with looking a roof constructed in accordance with theinvention.

A complete building, in accordance with the present invention, may beconstructed from a plurality of prefabricated members that are formedfrom sheet material and adapted to interlock to provide a rigidconstruction.

These pie-fabricated members, preferably comprise a minimum of differenttypes of elements and, as shown in Fig. 1, may include three basicunits, namely a main panel unit I, an auxiliary retaining unit 2 and alocking unit 3, obviously, in certain uses of these units other suitabletying or connecting elements may be employed and may be of more or lessconventional form.

The main panel unit I is made of a sheet ma-.. terial, preferably metal,as aluminum, steel or the like, the proportions of which, but not theconfiguration, may vary to meet the use of theu'nit. in certain parts ofthe building structure. The main unit I comprises a main face section 4-formedat the longitudinal edge with a rearwardly extending (consideringthe use of the unit) an.- gular projection 5 from the terminal of whichtheunit is formed to present a rearwardly inclined spacing section 6 andat the end of the lat-. ter further formed toprovide a forwardly in.-clined locking section 1. The opposite longitudinal edge of the mainface 4 is provided with arearwardly extending offset 8 that is connectedwith a locking section 9 which is rearwardly inclined. When two.panelunitsl are placed in position, their respective inclined lockingsections '1 and 8 are. substantially parallel forminglocking sections atthe adjacent ends of the main units, and while they extend in oppositedirections from the plane of the main units, the free edge of eithersection '5 or Sdoes not extend forwardly beyond the front faces 4, ofthe main units. l.

The auxiliary unit 2 includes a face portion If? that is adapted to fitbetween and in the plane of the face portions of the main units I. Onelongitudinal edge of the face portion 5 his folded rearwardly to form aright angular. flange ll.

andthe opposite longitudinal edge of which is folded to form arearwardly and inwardly or laterally inclined section 52 that isterminally formed in a return bend 13, then projected as a section F4 inspaced parallel relation to the sec-.. tion l2, the section idterminating in a return bend l5 and projected as a rearwardly and inwardly extending section It in spaced parallel relation to the section.l5, the. end of the section it projected rearwardly to form a web.section if extending substantially at. right angles of. the face portionlfl, the section ilterminating in an inclined edge flange. IS. Thesections l2, l4 l6. are substantially in parallelism providing channelsis and 28 of a width substantially equal to the thickness of the sheetsof whichthe units are formed. The upper and lower edges of the websection ll of the unit 2 are formed with vertically extending slots 25of a width substantially equal to the thickness of the sheets from whichthe units are formed.

In forming a wall from the above described members, the auxiliary units2' are utilized as the. connecting medium between adjacent main units I.When assembling these main and auxiliary units, as best shown in Figs.2- and l, the section I of the main unit I is inserted in the channel ofthe adjacent auxiliary unitz while, at the same time, the flange ll ofthe auxiliar-y unit seats within the rearwardlyex ending o fset. 5 ofthe main unit. The section 9 of the adjacent main unit I is inserted inthe channel l9 between the sections [2 and I l of the auxiliary unit 2.In this position, the offset 8 of the second mentioned main unit I seatssquarely against the shoulder or return bend between this face ii] andthe section l2 of the auxiliary unit 2 and the flange section 9 forms alock with the channel forming sections l2 and 14 against the lateralseparation of the main unit and the auxiliary units. A complete wall maythus be formed byassembling the desired number of main units, with theintermediate retaining units 2, the face sections 4 and lfllying inthesame plane to form a wall transversely of the building and the websections l"! forming joists for the wall.

Qne of theadvantages of the present invention resides in theadaptability of the units for cooperation to form all of the planarsurfaces in a building, that is, the inner walls, the partitions, thefloors, the ceilings and the roof, as well as the outer wall. The innerwall is assembled in the identioalmanner except, in this instance, thefront surfaces of the main units form the inner surface or face of theinner wall A double wall construction is shown in Fig. 2 as constitutingan outer wall A formed by assembledunits l and 2, and an inner wall B..f 0 1m.ed by assembled units In and 2a which may be identical inconformation to the units l and 2 but for convenience in description areidentified herein by the character a. In this, arrangement the. webportion ll of the auxiliary. units 2 constituting the uniting members ofthe outer W ll A extcndtoward but terminate short of the inner surfaceof the inner wall B, and the Web. sections lie of the auxiliary units 2aof the inner wallB will extend toward the front wall A and in paralleland slightly. spacedrelation withthe webs ll of said front wall. Thewebs. I1 and Ho are spaced to receive aninsulating strip 23, which maybe of any conventional or appropriate material, and thereby breakthermal contact. between the outer. wall A and the inner wall B.

It will be notedtha-t. the double wall construction providesintermediate spa es 24, separated one from the other and that there isno material metallic contactbetween any portion of the inner wallstructure and any portion of the outer wall structure. This avoidance ofmetallic contact serves in itself as an effective insulation, to saynothing of. theair contained in the inter wall spaces 24.. In additionto their function for insulating purposes, the spaces .24 mayconveniently accommodate installation of electric wires, pipes or otheraccessories with complete protection, simplicity'of installation andremoval, while being completelyinvisible or unobstructed. from theinterior of the building.

The outer and inner wall formations and the parts forming the same maybe locked in a fixed predetermined relation against the possibility ofdisplacement or separation, by any suitable means, however, the lockingunit 3, shown in Fig. l, ispreferred as it also functionsinthe manner ofa plate at. the ends of the webs I1 and Ila whichfunctionas studs. Thisunit comprises a channel-likememberhaving a face 26 with angularlyextending inner andouter edge flanges 2'! and 28-, with appropriatelyspaced and formed cut-out defining slots. These locking units 3 areprovided throughoutthe length of each outer and inner-wall at the top.and bottom, andare positionedwith their faces 26 horizontal and theirflanges 28 in contact with the inner surfaces of the bodies or faces 4and ll] of the main units l and the auxiliary units 2 respectively. Theflanges 28 are provided with slots 29 extending inwardly to the faces26; and which are spaced to straddle the angle portions extendingrearwardly from the face portions of the main and the auxiliary units.The inner flange 21 is arranged to overlie the edges of the web portionsl1 and lid of the auxiliary units and is provided with slots 38, each tostraddle a web portion 17 and l'la of the auxiliary units 2 and 2a, thewidth of the face section 26 of the locking unit being such that whenapplied the slot 30 will accurately register with the slots 2i in theweb portions l1 and Ho. The relative depths of the slots 2| and 3B issuch that when the locking unit is applied as described, the slots 39 onthe locking unit 3 actually engage the unbroken material of the web llof the auxiliary unit 2 and the slots 2| in the auxiliary unit engagethe unbroken portion of the flange 2'5 of the locking unit 3. Thus, theface section 25 of the locking unit rests against the end edges of theinterlocking flanges extending from the main units l and of theauxiliary units 2 and as the slots in the parts actually engage unbrokenportions of the cooperating elements, the webs ii and Ila of theauxiliary units 2 and 2a are rigidly braced against angular movement andthe web portions l! and Na are maintained in fixed, spaced parallelismwithout other support or fastening.

The locking units 3 are assembled at the upper and lower ends of thewall structures and against the inner surfaces of both the inner andouter walls, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2. Consequently, theparts, without substantial metal contact and without the use ofadditional fasten ing or securing means, are locked against separation,maintaining them in their fixed desired position against any usualstrain to which the walls may be subjected. Thus, the locking members,when in applied position become a part of the wall structure lockingsuch parts together at the top and bottom, preventing the possibility oftheir casual separation or movement in any direction and, furthermore,forming plates at the bottom for supporting the wall on a suitable base,and at the top for supporting any desired superstructure.

While the building may be mounted on any appropriate foundation, it maybe advantageously employed with a particular foundation, best shown inFig. 3. This foundation comprises vertically positioned I -beams 3!,having their sides cut away at their upper ends to provide each with atongue 32 that is formed by the Web of the beam. The main length of theI-beam is sunk in the ground or embedded in a cement foundation and theupstanding tongue 32 is inserted between the lower ends of the spacedwebs l1 and lid of the auxiliary units 2 and 2a. The contacting surfacesor" the tongue 32 and webs l1 and lid of the auxiliary units 2 and 2aare provided with one or more openings through which an appropriatefastening element may be inserted. The foundation beams 3i preferablycooperate with the lower ends of eachpair of auxiliary units 2 and 2a,but, obviously, they may be arranged in less number under reduced weightrequirements.

The cutaway portions of the outer sides of the I-beams 3i present sideshoulders 33 to receive and support the locking units 3 at the loweredges 7 shoulders 34 to support the floor beams as herein afterdescribed.

The floor of the structure may be constructed in a manner identical tothat of the walls, and may comprise main and auxiliary units which areof the same conformation but, for convenience, are identified by thecharacter b. If the building is of double wall type, the edge of thefloor, preferably, will be formed to extend beyond the inner wall,whereas, if it is of the single wall type the floor will be extended tothe outer wall. The floor structure comprises a plurality of main unitslb connected by intermediate auxiliary units 2b, the webs llb of whichextend downwardly to form beams. The ends of the faces and lock formingsections of the auxiliary units 2b are cut away to provide an extendedportion 35 of the webs llb so that the cut-away end edges may more orless abut the inner edge of the tongue 32 and the extended portion 35may be placed against the web of the L-beam and the free edge of theflange 58b of the web l'lb may rest on the shoulders 34 of the I-beam.The extended portion 35 may be fixed to the I-beam by any appropriatefastening to form a rigid connection.

The main units lb are cut away at the ends of their locking edges tocoincide with the cutaway portions of the auxiliary units 21), the body4 of the main units lb forming projecting portions 38 having their edgesupturned to form flanges 39, as best shown in Fig. 5. When the mainfloor units lb are in position, the projecting end portions 38 willunderlie the locking units 3a of the inner wall B and the flange 39 willlie behind and in contact with the free side of the inner locking units3a to lock the floor and inner wall structures together. The lower edgesof the projecting portion 35 of the auxiliary units 21) are so relatedto the web of the I-beam as to rest on the inner shoulders 34 on theI-beams 3i, and bear against the tongue (52 to support and tie the flooras a whole on and to the foundation beams 3!. The opposite edge of thefloor structure will be identical with that just described and need notbe repeated.

The construction at the corners is identical with that hereinbeforedescribed except that the corner pieces 25 are formed by main units thathave their body portions il longitudinally bent at an angle intermediatetheir longitudinal edge formations to permit one edge portion of themain unit to extend as apart of one wall and the other edge portion toextend as a part of the other wall.

In order to insure and maintain the rigidity of the corners of thebuilding, corner braces til, shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 6,are provided between the adjacent webs ill or l'la of the auxiliaryunits 2 or 2a adjacent the corners. These corner braces include anintegral member having side walls 4! and a center wall 42 with the sidewalls M at right angles so as to bear squarely against the respectivewebs ll or Ila and the center wall 42 will extend between said webs as abrace. The side walls 4! are braced by integrally formed crosspartitions 43. The side walls M are provided with key-hole slots 45 andthe webs ll or Ha, with which the side walls 4| contact, are providedwith headed lugs projecting therefrom and adapted for locking engagementthrough the key-hole slots 44, in a conventional manner, as best shownin Figs. 7 and 3.

The ceiling structure is again made up of the main and auxiliary unitsof the same conformation as herein before described and which areconnected in exactly the same manner as previanagram ouslydescribed;however; as a matter of" con-- venience the units forming the ceilingare identified by the'charact'er 'c.' In thisinstance, however; theportionsof' the main: units constituting the outer face=of thewall arearranged to constitute the face of the ceiling. Here; the-main units [0,when in position, extend overtheedges of the inner wall-B, but thebodyportionsthereof do not cover the spacebetweenthe inner wall B? and outerwall as shown in Fig; 4E I-he ends of the body portions 40 of'the main"units Icof the ceiling structure overlie the inner wall B and theadjacentinner locking unit' 3a, and the end edges: thereof are turneddown to form flanges 45 to rest behind and inclose contact with therelative outer surfaces of the locking units 3a, thereby lockingtheupper edges of the' inner wall B with the ceiling in the samemanneras previously described with respect: to the floor.

The ceiling sections proper, that' is, the main units Ic areinterlocked'with' the'auxiliary units 20 in usual manner and while themajorportions of the main units lc extend only over the inner wall, theauxiliary unitsZc extend to" the outer wall. In otherwords, theauxiliary units 22; have their ends-extended to overlie and alignvertically with the auxiliary members 2 andiZ'aof'theouter and'innerwalls A and B, respectively. This. a1"- rangement provides means forinterlocking the ceiling with the wall structure.

Theweb portions l-l and ll'a'of the auxiliaryunits? and 2a in the wallsA and B are extended toform tongues Mand 55 rising above the level of.the ceiling. Theface portion I of the extended end portion of theauxiliary units. 20, as best shown in Fig. 4, is provided with: spaced,parallel longitudinally extending slots 48- and 5 9'; and the sections l60' and 80 extending angularly from each side of the web [Tcare-providedwith' slotsSS and 5!, respectively; adjacent to the'=su1'"-face of the web l! and in alignment with the slot 68. In addition, theangular portions- 60 of the main units to are provided with a pair of:slots 52'and' 53 to overlie and coincide respectively with the slots 58and 49.

In assembling the ceiling, each auxiliary unit is positioned so that theslots 18 and 49 register with the respective tongues 54* and 55 oftheauxiliary units 2 and 2a of'the' outer and inner wallsA' and B: 'I het'ongue- 54 may be longer and extend upwardly through the registeringslots 48', 52, 58*and' 5'1 andfin substantial com tact with one side ofthe-web H'c'of theauxiliary units 20. The tongue 55 mayextend'throughthe registering slots 49 and SS-and into conta'ct' with 4 the oppositeside of the-web lTc; The=tongues-54- and 55' may then be fastenedtogeth'erwith the web llc sandwiched therebetween to securely tie theceiling with the walls andtolock'the parts in fixed relative position.

Each projecting end of the auxiliary units 20 in the ceiling assembly isformed-to-so interlockwith the auxiliary units of the Wall formationthereby providing a plurality of interconnections by which the ceilingstructure is locked to the wall structure. Furthermore, it willlie-apparent that one of the extended tongues 54 and 55 rises as acontinuation of that auxiliary unit 2 forming part of the outer wall A,while the other tongue rises as a continuation oi 'theadja'centauxiliary unit 2a, forming part of the inner wallB: Therefore, whenthese-tongues 5'4 and 55: are engaged in and through the slotsof theauxiliary units 20 of the ceiling structure; it will be apparent thatthe adjacent webs! land llaof the auxiliary 8. units z'and Z'aoftheouter and inner wall; areheld in each. instance in: parallelism and.positively.- lo ckedi against relativezmovement;

The.roofiheneshowninEigs: 3"andl4:as:agable; root, but obviously capableof; arrangement inz other, even. fiat, forms if: desired; agairrutilizesthe main and auxiliaryunits: as: the primary ele.- ments. in itsconstruction, which, for convenience; are identified by'the charactewcl.Eachiside or section 5:? and 57. orthe' gable:1oof:,.is-made up of mainunits ldi andi auxiliary units, 2d. and; with the webs llfcZ-i dependingtherefrom to: act as rafters; The outer ends: of the auxiliary units.2d; of the; roof. assemblyare. provided with. slots: 58: irr thevflangeslilalandradjacent thesurface of the webs: lldi. 'Iiherooi. may then bemounted above the ceiling and tied to the wall structure by the;extended portion; of: the longer tongue 54 of oneof the auxiliary units:2' or; 211 forming the wall structure. The tongue 54 projects throughthe: slotsin: the ceiling structure and is extendedito pass through theslot 58 of the auxiliary' unit 2d; off the: roof assembly. The extendedtongue portions-.54 of the webs I1. 01: I'Ta' of the auxiliaryunitsZIorZa that aretemployed ini thewall assem,-- bly, thus extendiupwardly'through the outer ends of the. auxiliary units 20. of; theceilingsassembly and the outeror lower ends of the-auxiliary units: 2d of. theroof 'assemblytmtie'the walls, .the'ceiling anditheroofinifixedlrelative position; Thez-outer. ends of the roof units id andfldimay be cut away at-airinclination to: correspond: with that oftheroof section; and tolbe inialvertical plane. with the. ends of. the:ceiling. structure;

The meeting ends of: thezroof'sections' 51: and" 51-, at the apex ofthe: roof,.arev connected". bye: locking channel. 301, shownmore;particularly, in- Figs; 3 and. 9; The; channel: 3d comprises a flat faceplate section: 517 and relatively inclined parallel side'fianges 6 lhaving slots 62i' to register with theslots 21d inthe endof thewebportions lid off the. auxiliary. roof units" 211. The face sections:605' are, preferably a somewhat wider than thetregular'locking units 3to extend betwe'en the s1'ots2 l in the webs-IT.

Two such locking channels 3'dextendalengthwise of the roof atthe'm'eetlngedgeszofathewebs oftheroof sections at the apex:0f the roof.The channels 3d are positioned with their plate'sections in contact andtheir: slots filregistering withthe-slot's 2ld of each of thewebs' [1dof. the auxiliary units: 211.

The lcckin'g channels. 3d may berigidly. connected as: a single unitthough this isnot absO- lutely essentialz for the purpose of. the:reinforce and binding; Thesexlocking channels interloclc all auxiliaryunits of 'each' roof sectiomi! or'filf, binding the auxiliary units 251.of these sections together and: rendering the structureiat" the apex 1ofvthe roof: immovablelandirigidz Themai'niunits lcL forming: theroofisections 51: and. 51" are provided? at. their. apex ends with upwardlyturned: U shap'ed: flange: portions. 63 A rigid seal 66.. havinglateral. downwardlyturned u-shaped flangeportions B5, is arranged to:interlock with: the'fiangestSSi at theapex endof each roofsection ldqto:bind; the'seisections in rigid relation and: at thesamextime cover andefiectively seal the. joint between them.

Similarlocking channels13e may be (provided to tie. together the-freeoutenendaof the roof and. ceiling: sections and along tlie-lengthof thebuild-- ing. These-channelste are substantially identical= to thechannels 3d with theexception that: the side flanges- 61 are at rightangles to the face plate 60'. The slots 62 in these side flanges 6| areso arranged, and the width of the locking channels 3c is such that theslots 62' in one flange 6 l will cooperate with slots 66 in the webportions l'lc of each and every auxiliary unit 20 forming part of theceiling assembly. Likewise, the slots 62 in the other flange 6 Icooperate with the slots Si in the webs lid in the auxiliary units 2dwhich form part of the roof sections. channels 3e and the webs ll of theauxiliary units are interfitted to the limit of their respective slots,there 'is rigid metal to metal hearing between the parts which maintainthe auxiliary units in proper position and lock them against lateralmovement.

It is to be particularly noted. that through the arrangement described,the auxiliary units 2d of the roof section assemblies act as the topcords or compression members of a roof truss, the bottom truss ortension member of which cordis formed by the auxiliary units 20 of theceiling assembly.

The upper edges of the main units l of the outer wall A are formed overto provide downwardly extending hooks 68 and the ends of the auxiliaryunits 2d of the roof section assemblies are formed over to provideupwardly extending hooks 69. These hooks throughout the length of thebuilding are united by a facia sheet 10 having edge hook portions H toslidably cooperate with the respective hooks 68 and 69, in a manner toprevent relative upward movement of any of the portion of the buildingabove the walls, while at the same time providing an ornamental finishfor the building structure. If desired, a gutter structure 72 may bearranged to interfit over the upper end of the facia sheet 10, as shownin Fig. i, to overlie the lower side edges of the roof sections fordrainage purposes.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the outer wall structure A may extendthe full height of the building, while the inner wall structure, at theends of the building, terminates at the ceiling line.

Although certain specific embodiments of the L invention have been shownand described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof arepossible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and in accordance with thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A building surface structure for forming a wall floor, ceiling orroof of a building, which structure includes a plurality of units ofthree types, two types of said units having face portions to form asurface, and flanges and channels respectively formed along theiradjacentedges and interfitting in looking engagement to join said unitstogether with their face portions in a plane, one of said two types ofunits having rearwardly extending web portions to rigidly brace saidunits longitudinally, the third type of said units comprising a lockingmember extending transversely of a plurality of said two types of unitsand locking said units together, said looking member having means forclipping the interfitting angular flanges and the web portions of saidunits to lock those parts together and brace the assembled structuretransversely of said units.

2. A building structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lockingmember comprises a channel structure having parallel flanges, slots inone of said flanges and straddling the interfitting As the locking 10flange and channel forming portions of said units, and slots in theother of said flanges and straddling the rearwardly extending webportion to rigidly hold said web at a predetermined angle.

3. A building structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the webstraddling slots of said locking member extend only part of the depth ofsaid flange and the webs are provided with slots in their ends toreceive the remainder of said flange at the ends of its partial depthslots.

4. A double surfaced building structure for forming a double wall or aceiling and floor or the like, which structure includes spaced surfaceconstructions, each of which comprise a plurality of units having faceareas and with their adjacent edges respectively formed withinterlocking flanges and channels which are assembled to position saidface areas in a plane to form a surface, alternate units having arearwardly extending web to brace said units longitudinally, said spacedsurface structures being arranged back to back with said rearwardlyextending webs extending in opposite directions and in side b siderelationship, and a locking member extending longitudinally of andbetween said spaced surface structures and clipped over said webs tolock said structures as a unit.

5. A roof structure comprising two sections as a gable roof, each ofsaid sections comprising a plurality of units, two types of said unitshaving face portions to form a surface, and flanges and channels formedalong their adjacent edges and interfitting in looking engagement tojoin said units together with their face portions in a plane, one ofsaid two types of units having rearwardly extending web portions torigidly brace said units longitudinally, the third type of said unitscomprising a locking member extending transversely of a plurality ofsaid two types of units and locking said units together, said lockingmember having means for clipping the interfitting angular flanges andthe web portions of said units to lock those parts together and bracethe assembled structure transversely of said units, the adjacent edgesof the face portions of said sections being formed upwardly and over toform locking flanges, and an angular channel member spanning the jointbetween said sections and having returned flanges underlying and lookingwith said locking flanges.

6. A building structure comprising a wall made up of main and auxiliaryunits having edge interlocking formations maintaining body portions ofthe main units in the same plane and web portions of the auxiliary unitsat right angles thereto in the manner of studs, some of the webs of theauxiliary units forming the wall extending upwardly, and a roofstructure made up of units having the same configuration as the wallunits with the body portions of the main units and parts of theinterlocking formations of the main and auxiliary units forming thesurface of the roof and the webs of the auxiliary units extendingdownwardly, the top edges of the body portions of said wall units beingformed over as downwardly extending flanges, extensions of the webs ofthe roof units being formed over as upwardly extending flanges, and aface plate covering the ends of said roof webs and having inwardlyturned edges fitting around said body and web flanges.

7. A building structure comprising a wall made up of main and auxiliaryunits having edge interlocking formations maintaining body portions ofmade :up of main andauxiliaryunits .having the same cross-sectionalconfiguration as the :units making up the wall, the :web portions ofsaid 'fioor units extending downwardly in the manner of beams, andafoundation comprising vertically positioned.I-beamshaving their sideflanges cut away at their upper .ends to form tongues extending upwardlyinto contact withthe web portions-of said wall units, said Wall unitsbeing supported bythe shoulders formed by thezcut away.sideflanges-onthe voutersides of said beams, the web portions ofsaidwfloor units bearing in edge engagement on the shoulders formed bythe'cut away sideiflanges on'the inner sides of said beams andcontacting in surface engagement with the webs 'of said beams.

HENRY'C. MORTENSON.

12 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

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